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Right, but Duncan hasn't been nearly as consistent as Tiago has.
Tiago just automatically does good things for you all the time. Duncan will always be the leader, but Tiago should be getting more shots off in a game than Duncan.
Also, having TP and the TOSB running pick n roll (which usually leads to TP jacking up a jumper) defeats the purpose of having Splitter out there.
Get the TOSB out of the way and let Splitter do some work.
Right, but Duncan hasn't been nearly as consistent as Tiago has.
Tiago just automatically does good things for you all the time. Duncan will always be the leader, but Tiago should be getting more shots off in a game than Duncan.
I agree that both should kind of alternate depending on who's got the hotter hand.
Giving the ball to ANY player with the hot hand gives a team a pretty good chance. Continually giving the ball to a player who is having an off night IS NOT a formula for winning.
Where did I say, Splitter is Duncan (prime Duncan is what you're implying I assume)? Never did I say that.
Listen, Duncan is my all-time favorite player (right next to Manu).
With that being said, I hate to break it to you (and I think I'm being objective; heaven forbid that), but Duncan is not a better post player than Splitter right now. Duncan usually falls down more often than not when he absorbs contact from the post defender-- which leads to a fadeaway/off-balanced hook that isn't close to being as efficient as it used to be. His knees and legs/core simple don't have enough strength or mobility to abuse people down low anymore. Most of his conversions from 4 down, is from a jumper off a jab-step or a reverse pivot fade away when his back is at the basket (these moves don't create offense for others/ nor do they warrant a strong double team; it simply kills the offense when it isn't going in).
Splitter is quite the opposite as he's able to absorb contact and get off a clean efficient looks time and time again (if not for him then for his teammates as well).
In my opinion, Splitter should see 4 down more than Duncan. I personally think Duncan should differ a little more and let the offense come to him from the pick and pop or for a 4 down jumper here and there (kind of like how Dave differed; that doesn't mean I'm trying to say Splitter has 2001-Duncan-like skills; it just means Splitter is a better and more efficient post scorer/offensive player than 35/36 year old Duncan). Sorry but its just my opinion and sorry for being aware that this is 2012 and not 2003. Still love Duncan though, with all my heart...tbh..
If i remember correctly the game ended in the Spurs winning 104-102? I may be wrong.
So, yeah. Thank god the TOSB went for 26+ because if he didn't, then it may have been a different story.
If Timmy scoring 25+ means beating teams like the hornets by 2 points, then we're in for a long season.
Yep. Now if only these TOSB homers can understand this simple concept.
Caeman is trolling beautifully in this thread
You do realize it was some other player "giving" the ball to Duncan instead of looking for the player with the hot hand.
Legends don't back down from the shot if given the opportunity. The best opportunity was to give it to the player with the hottest hand. Can't fault Duncan if Pop was calling the play for him or if Parker failed to get the ball to the better option on the court.
Not really since nobody has responded to anything he's said.Caeman is trolling beautifully in this thread
True
Carry on.
I'm not so sure that Splitter is hands down the more reliable option. Some nights yes, but some nights no. I definitely don't think it's clear cut that he's better in the post than 2012 Duncan is every night they suit up.
Splitter playing big (bigger?) minutes was great to see. Splitter finishing the game was even better to see.
Let's hope Pop keeps it up even if there are growing pains. If he gives up on it, the Spurs are screwed.
Obviously you feed any player who has a hot hand. I am no Duncan hater, and I think he can contribute greatly to the team. The problem is that he is not going to give us great play every night anymore. At his age he can not be relied upon as the primary threat on offense any more. I believe by taking the focus away from Duncan he would actually see his scoring increase. By running the offense through Parker and Splitter, Duncan would get a lot more open looks both inside and outside.
I definitely think that game winning shot of Duncan's against New Orleans is clouding your thought in regards of how Duncan has scored most of his points this year (off the jumper or an uncontested lay-up created from another player).
Agree with Manu4Tres.. without looking at the numbers which im sure would back it up.. Splitter is having alot more success than Tim in 4 down this season.
When Tiago has the ball down there.. im fully expecting a bucket or a foul. When Tim has it.. im expecting a tough off balanced one handed toss at the basket..not only he cant get the shot off he wants.. he doesnt have the strength to get where he wants to go in the post. He cant move anyone because hes about 230 pounds soaking wet.. he looks damn near anorexic out there. In his prime.. he was every bit of his 260 pounds he was listed at.. he was skillful and physically imposing down there.
Tim is better served playing the high post with the occasional 4 down look to mix it up when Tiago is off the floor. When Tiago is out there.. run 4 down through him.
The point is that there's is no evidence to suggest Tiago isn't the better post player right now. Not only is he putting up some fantastic numbers, but you can tell by just watching him. Hes stronger, faster, has no problem getting his shot off while maintaining his balance against physical defense, and he plays smart. Playing Tiago in the post greatly benefits Duncan's game as well.
Duncan does a lot of his damage from the high post nowadays. His best games this season are the ones where he hits those 15-18 footers at a high percentage. Duncan hasn't been super effective from the post the last 2 years. This is evident in his increase jumpshot frequency and his significant drop off in points. More importantly, its obvious when you watch the games.
Doesn't mean that Duncan is useless in the post or that he should never demand the ball down there. It also doesn't mean that Tiago is going to be consistent for the season. In fact, there's no way he maintains a 75 FG% for the rest of the season. But right now it makes more sense to audition Splitter as the primary post player and see what happens from there.
Another one of Tiago's strength's that I am dying to see is his passing from the post. Especially once the double teams start to come. That's supposed to be one of his main strengths coming from Europe. If the scouting reports are true, our offense improves tremendously.
He's already shown flashes of that ability. It would be great to have plays occasionally run from the post instead of always from the perimeter.
The problem with the damn offense tonight, especially in the 4th quarter in the final 6-7 minutes, was that by the time Tim or Tiago got it in the paint, the shot clock was down to 10 seconds or less. That is not enough damn time to work in the paint. Tony and the rest of the guys gotta feed both of these guys sooner in the shot clock....
I ran through some stats from 82games.com this season, and here's some telling stuff about Duncan this season and Tiago this season.
Duncan
Shot selection: Jumpshots = 74%, Inside = 26%
eFG%: Jumpshots = 47%, Inside = 45%
Splitter
Shot selection: Jumpshots = 33%, Inside = 67%
eFG%: Jumpshots = 36%, Inside = 68%
Other interesting stats are that Tiago has been drawing fouls twice as much as Tim this season, and he's also been shooting free throws at a higher percentage. Tim is still the better shot blocker and passer.
Stats for both from 82games.com
Tim Duncan
Tiago Splitter
TBH TOSB what the heck do they mean?
"TOSB" stands for Tired Old Bag. Some stupid trend that Cubby "copyrighted" months ago.
I know this will be considered heresy, but I'm gonna say it anyway.
Start Splitter.
Bring Timmy on from the bench in relief. He is no longer the best big man on the team on most nights. I don't think they can play extended minutes together for several reasons, not the least of which is TD can't play PF any more.
It will make the other players, especially Tony, to realize that they have to work through Splitter now and forget what they've been doing with TD for all these years.
Disagree. Tim just needs to cope with the fact that right now Tiago is the better option and when they are on the court together the offense runs through him.
On a side not, I'll say its really is a shame Duncan never developed himself a reliable hook shot/other finesse post moves. Sure he has few variations of a running baby hook that he pulls out of his rabbit hat every once in awhile, but nothing I've seen that is reliable or consistent. With his length he would have no problems whatsoever getting these shots off. Most of his moves over the years have centered on bullying past or through his defender to get close high % point blank shots at basket. Now that his knees are shot he is a sitting duck out there with no way to get high % shots. He's got his jumper, his banker, and that 's about it.
And if I'm not mistaken both his jumper and banker depend on his knees.
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